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Hi there, I'm a student in 3d animation, I am preparing my sketches and concepts for my final movie and I would really appreciate opinions and thoughts about my different concepts so far.
The whole setting is a desolated place with dead/dying plants.
A sort of humanoid that comes out of a cocoon.
Plants are shrinking and dying even more.
The creature starts levitating and disappear through the clouds.
The vegetation starts blooming again.
The End.
Update [November 21st ] - Worked on my concepts, still have a lot of work to do, critique on how to improve those pieces would be appreciated.
Main character
Attachment 1640213
My scene
Attachment 1640214
Concepts (mostly sketches)
Attachment 1631750Attachment 1631751Attachment 1631752Attachment 1631753Attachment 1631754


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Joomla Day France 2014Wednesday, 16 April 2014
The Joomla Day France 2014 will take place in Paris in May. The day is coming and we are pleased to announce our participation to the event.
You can find the program at this url : http://www.joomladay.fr/programme-2014.html
Stay in touch and follow us to get our feeback and impressions.
New Flexicontent plugin : Flexi Image MapWednesday, 16 April 2014
Dear customers,
We are pleased to announce the arrival of our new extension Flexi Image Map. Flexi Image Map is Flexicontent plugin that allows you to draw areas on yours images. Then you can set additionnal informations about those areas.
Really fun and intuitive features, have a look on http://extensions.netassopro.com/extensions/plugins/flexi-image-map !
flexIMPORT ready for Joomla 3.x !Friday, 10 January 2014
We are proud to present you, our new release of flexIMPORT :
- Support Joomla 3.x
- Support now the json file
- Add all the standard field of FLEXIcontent (minigallery included)
- All the code rebuild to improve performance and compatibility
- This new release is only compatible for Joomla 2.5.x and 3.x
- ...
Have fun !

subset: commoncrawl


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Bed of Roses Pillow
Material List
- Aleene's® Fabric Fusion™ Permanent Dry Cleanable Fabric Adhesive
- Felt squares, Red (2)
- Satin ribbon, Red (2 yards of 1/4-inch wide)
- Batting
- Silk roses, Red (16)
- Hole Punch
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Sewing Pins
Project Instructions
Step: 1
Cut felt into two 9-inch x 9-inch squares.
Step: 2
Lay the squares on top of each other. Punch holes along each side, ½-inch apart.
Step: 3
Lace ribbon in a whip-stitch all the way around, leaving a 4-inch opening.
Step: 4
Stuff pillow with batting.
Step: 5
Complete lacing the ribbon and tie ends into a bow.
Step: 6
Pull flowers from stems. Glue flowers to the pillow with Fabric Fusion, four flowers across in four rows. Pin in place until glue is set, then pull out pins.
Step: 7
Let dry completely.


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Drawing on the expertise of champion ultra-runner Scott Jurek, the Ultimate Direction SJ Ultra Vest effectively balances weight and performance in providing at-the-ready hydration for long-distance running or racing. Two 20 oz sport bottles included.
Updated for 2014! A reflection of ultrarunner Anton
Krupicka's minimalist approach, the sure-fitting Ultimate Direction AK Race
Vest 2.0 incorporates the hydration and storage features you truly need while
skipping anything extraneous.
The minimalist Ultimate Direction Jurek Essential running belt is lightweight, comfortable and designed to carry little more than keys, your phone, identification and the bare minimum in fuel. Available in your choice of colors.
With an ergonomic bottle holster, at-the-ready storage and a contoured design that stays out of your way, the Ultimate Direction Access hydration waist pack is perfect for short runs or day hikes. A 20 oz Bottle with Kicker Valve is included.
Contoured specifically for female runners, the Ultimate Direction Strider Women's waist pack rides snugly and comfortably on your hip rather than on the back or the waist. Features include front storage and a rear water bottle holster.
A minimalist hydration running belt, the Ultimate Direction Jurek Endure has a lightweight, streamlined design that includes two leakproof 10 ounce sport bottles and storage for fuel and essentials.
New for 2014! The
minimalist Ultimate Direction Women's Meow running belt is lightweight,
comfortable, breathable and designed to carry little more than keys, your phone,
identification and the bare minimum in fuel without slowing you down.
Reflecting Anton Krupicka's minimalist approach, the ultra-lightweight (6 oz) Ultimate Direction AK Race Vest incorporates the hydration (two 20oz bottles) and storage features you truly need for a day of trail running while skipping anything extraneous.
Serving as a lightweight day hiking pack or an on-the-go hydration option for trail running, the Ultimate Direction Katoa lumbar pack offers a bounce-free "ride" and offers 160 cubic inches of secure storage. Two 20 oz bottles are included.
Ultimate Direction literally invented the entire concept of a specific pack to carry water with you when running, hiking, skiing or climbing. That was back in 1986. Continuing to innovate, Ultimate Directions welcomes you "to the future of the original."
Backcountry Edge is proud to be an authorized Ultimate Direction dealer.
Click here to visit the official Ultimate Direction website. (Note: you will be leaving Backcountry Edge.)
Designed to tote a single day's worth of gear, clothes or books, daypacks are perfect for the trail, around town or the classroom.
Lumbar or fanny packs allow you to carry and keep at your fingertips the essentials for a day's adventure.
Lightweight fabrics and streamlined designs for fast and light hiking and backpacking.
High-performance designs for the female hiker and backpacker.
These backpacks feature reservoirs and drinking tubes for built-in hydration.
View more videos in our Video Library.


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We can make jokes about how Ryan Theriot looked gritty in his punchless 0-4, 2K Dodger debut, wonder how Scott Podsednik's scrappiness is more important than the 3 meager hits he's contributed in 15 at-bats, and mourn that Blake DeWitt got only one fewer hit (3) in his Cubs debut than the entire Dodger team did today (okay, especially that last one), but this problem is the same as it ever was. Just like I've been saying for weeks, the new acquisitions are basically meaningless if the guys who've been here all season don't start to hit.
Let's quickly stop to exempt literally the only man who's not part of the problem, Rafael Furcal, who despite going hitless tonight still has a July OPS over .900 with a team-leading five homers. Furcal's been arguably the best shortstop in baseball this year. Well done, Rafael.
As far as everyone else… well, look at it this way. The Dodgers are unquestionably below-average on offense right now at catcher, second base, third base, and left field (without Manny). With Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier hardly contributing at all over the last two months, center field and right field aren't strengths right now, either. At first base, while I think a lot more of James Loney than most people do, I also can't argue that he's a first baseman in the class of guys like Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Joey Votto, and Adrian Gonzalez – he's just not.
You could really make the case that the Dodgers are below-average at seven of the eight lineup spots right now, and that's before you consider that the bench is utterly worthless aside from Jamey Carroll's powerless OBP skills.
And that makes it hard to point the finger at anyone in particular, because they're all terrible right now. Other than Furcal, not one Dodger has an OPS over .770 in July. Not a one. If anyone really stands out, it's Casey Blake, who's hitting under .170 for the month and making that guaranteed 2011 in his contract look even worse than I feared it'd be when they signed him nearly two years ago, but it's hard to pretend he's the only problem when Matt Kemp has an OBP below .300 for the month.
If you really want to see something terrifying, look at the image to the right. It's part of the boxscore from tonight's game, and I've highlighted the OBP column. That's for the season (except for Podsednik, who switched leagues) and it's pretty terrifying up and down. Once again, Furcal stands out amongst the mediocre and downright terrible.
So what can you do? Well, two things come to mind immediately, and they both involve second base. First and foremost, you just cannot bat Theriot that high in the lineup. I understand that when Andre Ethier returns that will probably bump Furcal up to 2nd and Theriot down lower, but Theriot has proven that he is just not the kind of guy who can get on base all that often. Setting aside the perfectly reasonable question of why the hell you acquired him in the first place, he needs to be hitting no higher than 7th tomorrow, regardless of Ethier's status.
Secondly – and believe me, I never ever thought I'd type these words – you have to play Jamey Carroll more. I know, I know. But there's just no argument you can make that Theriot is a more dangerous hitter than Carroll is, and Carroll does the one thing that few other Dodgers seem to be able to do right now – get on base.
Otherwise… well, there's not much you really can do other than hope that Manny comes back healthy and motivated, and that Kemp and Ethier figure out what the hell is causing their slumps. I'd also put forth that a team who's ostensibly trying to win shouldn't be wasting space on Garret Anderson this late in the season, but he's also not really playing enough to say he's the main cause of the problem here.
But no, finding a power bat off the bench wasn't part of the trade haul. Finding a third baseman who can actually hit wasn't on the menu. It was of course the starting pitching which was the problem, because it's not like Clayton Kershaw just tossed out something like the team's 10th excellent start in a row today. And didn't Octavio Dotel just exude creamy veteran goodness in entering a game in which the Dodgers were losing in walking a tightrope to get out of it? No way James McDonald or Travis Schlichting could have pulled that off, but I'm sure glad McDonald and Andrew Lambo were spent to find out.
Was it really just a few months ago where we thought this was going to be a team with historic offensive highs that would be held back by its pitching? My, how times have changed.


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Becky Ann Ross and Ernest John Sinkarow III were united in marriage at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Triadelphia United Methodist Church.
The bride is the daughter of Keith and Cleona Armbruster of Wheeling.
The groom is the son of Shirley and Ernest Sinkarow II.
Kathleen Walters was maid of honor. Bert George served as best man.
Other members of the wedding party included Debbie Black, Jennifer Littell, Marie Stevey, Cadence Bruce, Heath Lohr and Billy Myers.
A reception was at the Italian American Club, Wheeling.


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Laura Coral
Clinical Research Coordinator
Laura Coral is the clinical research coordinator for the Latino Diabetes Initiative. She was born and raised in Colombia before moving to the United States with her family.
Upon receiving her Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Laura wanted to work at an institution where she could integrate her interest in research with her Latino cultural background.
Shortly thereafter, Laura joined the LDI team at Joslin, where she is currently investigating the effect of at-home hemoglobin A1C testing, as well as the effect of Group Medical Visits on patients with Type 2 Diabetes.
Laura works alongside the clinic's doctors and nurses to follow up with the Latino and non-Latino patients participating in the study, and provides assistance with additional LDI community outreach projects.
Page last updated: April 24, 2014


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17 December 2007 14:44
In Episode 16 of the MCN Daily video show we hear about MCN road tester Trevor Franklin riding the new 2008 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, how British Trading Standards are looking into how secure motorcycle locks actually are, Nissan offereing limited edition Nissan Navara's after Long Way Down's success and Suzuki boss Paul Denning speaks about the pressure placed on Valentino ...
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In Episode 12 of the MCN Daily video show we have news on wire barriers being introduced to single carriageway roads, a clamp down on Christmas drink driving and Gilera's three-wheeled hybrid scooter. Subscribe to this podcast with RSS Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three minutes then email us here to ...
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Not sure if you want to live in Ashley Heights? Use realtor.com® Ashley Heights guide to help you make the right choice. Switch between tabs to get the latest real estate market information and trends in home prices, home values and rental prices, plus local school and city data all through our dynamic charts and maps. Ashley Heights information on realtor.com® puts the local scoop on Ashley Heights right in front of you so you can learn more about the lifestyle, population, household income, median home prices, and other valuable information online.
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Marital status represents the percent of residents in Ashley Heights that are single, married, widowed and divorced. In Ashley Heights, 61% of people are married and 39% of people are single. The percent of people married is 5% lower than the ratio of Hoke County, which is 66%. Marital data is sourced from census, 2013.


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Boston >Restaurants >
Seafood >East Ocean City Restaurant
27 Beach St, Boston, MA | Directions 0211142.351453 -71.061722
Mon-Thu 11:30am-10pm
Fri 11:30am-11pm
Sat 12pm-11pm
Sun 12pm-10pm
Neighborhoods: Chinatown, Central, Chinatown / Leather District, Downtown
East Ocean City has been an icon of Boston Chinatown since it's opening day in 1991. We take pride in making our patrons feel at home here. Everyday 600 lbs. of fresh live seafood is delivered to our Kitchen. We host the largest fresh seafood tanks in Boston and we hope you enjoy knowing that you are getting the best when you come in and have a meal with your family and friends.
For many years, East Ocean City has also been the top choice for large functions and weddings. Our staff are trained to handle large parties and special events. We will personalize your banquet and attend to your guests. All you have to do is enjoy and have a good time.
Terrible food and Worst Customer Service – We went to this restaurant on 1/7/2012 for dinner and ordered a dish with fried scallop, squid and pork chop with garlic and red pepper. We had always ordered this dish. This time it was so spicy that it was impossible to swallow. At first, we told the waitress that it was unbearable spicy. She told us there is nothing she can do. Then we asked for the manager. The first word came out of his mouth was "This is not a refundable dish". I should clarify that I did not ask for refund, I was just telling him the fact. He didn't even offer to exchange the dish for us. Then he said that since we ordered an expensive dish. After a minute of exchange in words and asking him to try it, which he refused, he said all he could do was to take the dish back to the kitchen, scrape the pepper off the bater and "magically" make this dish not spicy. Really?!?!?. What kind of service is this? All the other dishes we ordered were also terrible. They were either tasteless or very salty. This place used to have decent food. Now it is horrible food with even worse customer service. I guess they either changed owner or chefs.
good for good prices – I had a very nice time at this restaurant and it was very fairly priced good p[portions..
Cheap lunch – EOC is a standard Chinatown restaurant. You walk past the dirty fish tanks, displaying fresh fish on the way in. The dining room is made up of dingy tables, but they have white linens. Like the rest of Chinatown I don't really want to see the kitchen, but the food that comes out tastes alright.
I have only gone to lunch at this restaurant, but the menu is cheap and they are flexible and will make whatever you like. Service is fairly attentive.
I wouldn't take someone here to impress, or on a date, but for a cheap lunch it can do the job. To be fair it is average Chinatown, no better, but certainly no worse.
Impressive decor, selection and quality – I recently stopped by East Ocean City with a particularly fussy friend, who dislikes some of the "hole in the wall" feel of a typical Chinatown restaurant. Not so here. White tablecloths, prompt seating, complimentary starters were just a beginning of the experience here. Having ordered a selection of american and schezwan dishes, i was surprised by the quality and clearly attention of preparation of each dish. So much so, that when ordering duck, was told that they have run out. I will be back just to try that !! The prices are marginally higher than neighboring joints but the overall experience more than makes up for the premium.
Don't go here...Worst customer service – My friends and I visited this place on o1/31/2010. We ordered something called "Love bird fried rice". It had CHICKEN, shrimp, GREEN BEANS and bunch of other veggies. One of my friends and I ordered the dish WITHOUT CHICKEN.
After waiting for our dish about 15 minutes the waiter brought us the food (in a pie plate). It didn't look very appetizing. One half had some shrimp with GREEN PEAS and the other half had some thinly sliced thing buried in ketchup. My friend started to eat it and said it tasted like meat.
We called the waiter and he said it was PORK.
These people can't stick with their own menu. They change the ingredients at their own will.
The waiter tried to convince us that it is what we ordered. We had to point to the menu to show him that the dish shouldn't have had PORK in the first place and we didn't want meat.
Just before we left another waiter looked at the tip and told us they need more money. With this sort of customer service they don't deserve any tips...DON"T GO HERE. I agree with the previous reviewer that this is the WORST restaurant in Chinatown of Boston.
Worst Chinese restaurant in China town Boston – I was at the restaurant on Fridays, March 6th, 2009. It was my first time at the restaurant, the food were good. I was so disappoint with your service. One of the waiter brought out the calculator to calculate for the tips. He demands that I have to come up 2 more dollars for tips. The total amount spent at the restaurant was $91.06 included tax. I gave out $102 in cash, and I thought that should be enough for the tips. He did not agree with the amount of tips and demand $2 dollars more. I did not know that they are demanding the tips to the corrected percentage. Sorry about that, usually the amount of tips are voluntary, not demanding. I feel very disappoint as I will post my review on the board so other people will be aware about the tips percentage that they are demanding. Thank you very much. We won't never come back to the restaurant again even though you have good food. It was such a bad experience for me. Please try other one in town, like the Peach Farm or Chow Chow city. I highly recomment the Peach Farm restaurant.
Good, not great – Check out reviews of each dish at:
chineseroadshow dot com
there is also a link to the menu at this site. They have reviews for a bunch of chinese restaurants
STICK WITH THE SEAFOOD – I had Chicken & Broccoli and it was nasty. It had fatty pieces of chicken, mushroom, sugar snap peas, carrots and broccoli. I don't know how you can call this Chicken & broccoli. The person I went with got a shrimp dish which was ok. Her dish was brought out about 10 minutes before my meal was ready. I am sorry I went to this restaurant.
hidden gem for lunch! – wouldn't think of walking into a formal-looking "dinner restaurant" (where you'd order several dishes as in full-course dining) when all you want is a quick, casual rice-dish kind of meal. was brought in by a colleague during lunch one day and found that this place actually has lunch menu. big portion of rice/noodle dishes that start from $5.50 up. it's good for two meals (at least for me) and it even comes w/soup! great find!
cant what till nexed time – east city ocean was i wonderfull resterront. The servis was superb.the watrisis were kind.The food was tasty. whan i want ther i had sea bass, ganu chows chikin, baby buck choy, chikin corn soup, and silver bread. I was with 8 other people and we wher not abill to eat it all. I recommend east city ocean to peaple that love great sevis, good food, and cheap prices.
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Preserve or Restore Your Neurological Function at the MCGHealth Skull Base Surgery Center In Augusta, Georgia
Tumors and diseases of the skull base, the part of the body that separates the brain from facial structures, present special surgical challenges because of the complex anatomical structure of the cranial base. Yet tumors and diseases in this region can affect the brain, hearing, vision and balance. So if you or a member of your family need skull base surgery, you'll want a team of highly skilled surgeons by your side.
To learn more about MCGHealth Skull Base Surgery.


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by travelswithkids
chicago, Illinois
July 28, 2006
From journal Safari to Chobe National Park in Northern Botswana
July 27, 2006
by matttan
Chiang Mai, Australia
December 10, 2002
Make sure you ask to head out before the sun rises. This will mean you get into the park and down to the Chobe river as all the animals get there for their morning drink. It's wonderful to watch the sun rise, creating a beautiful soft light, as elephant, impalla, birds, and many other animals come down to the water's edge to drink. As you continue through the park, you can see hippo (we saw a herd of about 20 in the water just a little way from our car), crocodiles, and many other animals.
We also had our only siting of a wild dog in Chobe. Wild dogs are incredibly rare, and so we count ourselves really privelaged to have seen one. They are a most amazing animal, when you learn of their hunting technique, and their pack comeradery.
After you finish in the park, spend the rest of the day lounging by the pool in the park's main accommodation area, before an evening river cruise, and drinks over the water as the sun sets over the river!
From journal Delta & Wildlife in Botswana


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Information on "Political Institutions"
April 2014
Apr 2014
Climate Change Cooperation within the Global South
Author: Stephen Minas
Publisher: Foreign Policy Centre (FPC)
This brief examines the climate change-related cooperation being pursued by Non-Annex I countries -- i. More on «Climate Change Cooperation within the Global South»
March 2014
Mar 2014
Avoiding Praetorian Societies
Author: Bruce Ferrell
Publisher: Strategic Studies Institute of the US Army War College (SSI)
This paper argues that weaknesses in US operations in fragile states like Iraq and Afghanistan result from not understanding the causes and importance of political instability in these countries and consequently being devoid of political development ... More on «Avoiding Praetorian Societies»
Mar 2014
Gouvernance, corruption et confiance a l'egard des institutions a Madagascar
Author: Joël Rakotomamonjy, Laetitia Razafimamonjy, Mireille Razafindrakoto, Désiré Razafindrazaka, François Roubaud, et Jean-Michel Wachsberger
Publisher: Afrobarometer
Le présent papier analyse l'expérience et la perception de la corruption par la population de Madagascar ainsi que sa confiance à l'égard des institutions politiques dans leurs lutte contre la corruption en 2013. More on «Gouvernance, corruption et confiance a l'egard des institutions a Madagascar»
February 2014
Feb 2014
Chieftainship (Bogosi) Endures Despite Democratic Consolidation in Botswana
Author: Mpho G Molomo
Publisher: Afrobarometer
This brief explores the relationship between public support for democracy, institutionalized democratic institutions and the existence of chieftainship (bogosi)as a social and political institution in Botswana. More on «Chieftainship (Bogosi) Endures Despite Democratic Consolidation in Botswana»
January 2014
Jan 2014
China's Trade Policy: Dominance Without the Will to Lead
Author: Hanns Günther Hilpert
Publisher: Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)
This paper provides an overview of developments and trends in Chinese trade politics and policy since the 1980s. More on «China's Trade Policy: Dominance Without the Will to Lead»
Jan 2014
Government Activity and Economic Growth – One Size Fits All?
Author: Joscha Beckmann, Marek Endrich, Rainer Schweickert
Publisher: Kiel Institute for the World Economy
This paper contends that the impact of overall government activity on economic growth is conditional on the quality of institutions in the country and differs between clusters of countries characterized by different economic systems. More on «Government Activity and Economic Growth – One Size Fits All?»
Jan 2014
Making Sense of the "International Community"
Author: Tod Lindberg
Publisher: Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
This paper explores the theoretical underpinnings and the historical development of international institutions in order to define what the phrase "international community" means. More on «Making Sense of the "International Community"»
December 2013
Dec 2013
Strategic Options for Europe's Future
Author: Janis A Emmanouilidis
Publisher: European Policy Centre (EPC) / Bertelsmann Foundation / King Baudouin Foundation
This report analyzes the interlinked socio-economic, political-institutional, societal and global issues that confront the EU and the key challenges each poses. More on «Strategic Options for Europe's Future»
November 2013
28 Nov 2013
The Visegrad Group and Germany: Towards a New Paradigm
Author: Michal Simecka
Publisher: Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)
This commentary examines the political-economic opportunities that may arise from the Visegrad Group's growing comfort with the idea of a German-dominated European Union (EU). More on «The Visegrad Group and Germany: Towards a New Paradigm»
September 2013
5 Sep 2013
Intelligence Spending and Appropriations: Issues for Congress
Author: Marshall C Erwin, Amy Belasco
Publisher: Congressional Research Service (CRS)
This report focuses on the intelligence appropriations process. More on «Intelligence Spending and Appropriations: Issues for Congress»


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For the most part, Frank Thomas has been letting his bat do his campaigning for his inclusion on the All-Star team. And what an argument it's made: The Big Hurt is batting .287 with 20 home runs and 48 RBIs through Saturday. Now it is up to you -- the fans -- to decide if Thomas will make the American League squad.
Thomas is one of five AL candidates for the etopps All-Star Final Vote, joining Oakland's Eric Byrnes, Boston's Jason Varitek, New York's Jason Giambi and Anaheim's Bengie Molina.
Five players in each league not elected to the All-Star Game were nominated by 2003 All-Star Game managers Dusty Baker and Mike Scioscia, in conjunction with Major League Baseball. Fans now have three days to vote for the final player on each league's roster. The etopps All-Star Final Vote ends on Wednesday, July 9, at 6 p.m. ET. Winners will be announced on MLB.com shortly thereafter.
"I want to make the All-Star team," Thomas said. "I don't mind saying it."
Thomas admitted he had voted for himself and said he had added motivation to play well this season after the White Sox invoked the diminished-skills clause in his contract last winter.
"I think I deserve to be there," he said. "I think everybody canceled me out and said my career was basically over. But I'm still doing my thing, getting all the walks. I definitely voted for myself because of the adversity I had to go through to get back to this level."
Thomas leads the resurgent White Sox in homers and is among the league leaders in on-base percentage (.429). In the most recent AL balloting update, he ranked third at designated hitter.
Since June 2, Thomas is hitting .347 (33-for-95) with 10 homers and 25 RBIs. In his last 34 games, Thomas has gone hitless just four times. Since May 24, he has reached base at least once in every game he's appeared.
Thomas was voted the AL starting first baseman three consecutive years (1994-96). Thomas was a member of five consecutive All-Star teams but hasn't made the All-Star team since 1997. He hasn't had an at-bat in the All-Star Game since 1995.
Fans, it's time to send him back again. The All-Star Game is in his home park and all he needs to join teammates Esteban Loaiza and Carl Everett in the Midsummer Classic is your vote.
Jim Molony is a writer for MLB.com based in Houston. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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In 1950, the Desert Inn Casino was opened in Las Vegas. In 2005, Tuan Le won the third WPT Championship. In 2006, Joe Bartholdi won the fourth WPT Championship. In 2010, David Williams won the eight WPT Championship.
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Hey! You should know that Nikon has released a newer version of this product: the Nikon COOLPIX S6800.
Nikon COOLPIX S6500:
Hands On Review
Nikon's high-end point and shoot for 2013 is feature packed, but does it live up to its price tag?
By Hillary Grigonis
- Coolpix S6500 Big Picture
This product is ranked:
21st of 157 in 14-16 Megapixels Digital Cameras 3rd of 53 in Point and Shoot Digital Cameras 16th of 66 in Nikon Digital Cameras 1st of 24 in $100 - $150
- User comments
Last updated on 06/12/2013
Nikon's more advanced point and shoot models have caught quite a bit of attention in the past few years. The camera giant's newest addition, the Nikon Coolpix S6500, adds wi-fi, a few more megapixels and a longer zoom range over the older S6300. At around $200, this compact shooter includes a 16 megapixel 1/2.3" backside illuminated CMOS sensor, a 12x optical zoom, several scene modes and a good bunch of creative effects. Can the Coolpix S6500 with wi-fi and in-camera photo editing continue to excite?
Nikon Coolpix S6500: Body and Design
Right out of the box, the S6500 impresses with it's sleek, metallic finish that doesn't make it feel flimsy like some cheaper point and shoots. The camera itself is less than 3/4" wide, plus the lens housing sticks out about 1/8" when closed, but all in all this camera fits in a lot of places and, weighing in at under 6 ounces, is meant to travel easy.
|The Nikon Coolpix S6500 features a slim design and metallic body.
The S6500 control set up is pretty straight forward. The on/off button is at the top, next to the shutter button and zoom toggle. Most of this camera's backside is taken up buy the 3" LCD screen (which is nice and bright as well), but there's just enough room for a dedicated video button, scene selection, playback, menu ring with shortcuts, menu option and delete button. At the right side, there are ports for recharging the battery and connecting to the computer. At the bottom is the housing for the battery and SD card, plus a tripod attachment.
Navigating through the controls and features on the S6500 is just as smooth and sleek as the digital camera's exterior. The menu wheel includes shortcuts for macro mode, exposure, self timer and flash, plus the dedicated scene selection button makes it easy to switch things up.
|The Nikon Coolpix S6500 features a large 3' LCD screen and simple menu controls.
When accessing the features that aren't part of the shortcuts, the menu is pretty straightforward. There are three submenus, one for stills and one for video, plus the usual set up menu—making it pretty easy to find the right options. There is a separate menu in playback mode with options for editing shots. The text is large and easy to read on the bright screen.
Overall, there's not to much to complain about design wise with the S6500. The outside is sleek and compact, and the menu and controls are easily accessible. For some reason, in the quick effects menu, the menu only scrolls over, not up or down, so it's sometimes annoying to sort through all the effects that way, but it's just a minor speck on an otherwise near flawless design.
Nikon Coolpix S6500: User Experience & Performance
The Nikon Coolpix S6500 offers quite a bit of user control for a point and shoot model. There's of course the auto mode, plus 20 scene modes including 3D and sweep panorama. But beyond that, the user can also adjust white balance, ISO, and focus modes, including manual and tracking focus.
At the maximum quality, the S6500 shoots at a rate of 7 fps, and while fast, the burst shooting stops after seven images. There are a few other options though, the low burst is a bit slower, but allows for shooting more sequential images than the high burst. There's also a continuous at 120 fps, but the faster speed trade off is a smaller file size. The Best Shot Selector (BSS) mode is also included, using a burst mode but automatically selecting the best shot out of the group.
After the photo is taken, the preview pops up on the LCD screen, along with editing options, and the user can't take another photo until the screen clears (hitting the menu button also clears the screen). There are a few menu options that make the preview display shorter, but doesn't eliminate it completely. The inability to take a second shot while the preview is displayed is a slight downfall, but using low burst mode prevents it from becoming a big issue.
|Use a smartphone as a remote shutter release, then upload images wirelessly, witth the Nikon Wireless Mobile Utility App and Coolpix S6500.
Wirelessly taking photos understandably takes a little longer, but using the Nikon Wireless Mobile Utility app, taking and uploading an image using a smartphone takes less than 30 seconds (wi-fi speed will vary depending on the internet connection). The app can adjust the zoom and take photos wirelessly, or can be used to transfer existing images on the camera to a smartphone or tablet. And like the S6500, the wireless app is simple to use.
Start-up on the Coolpix S6500 is rather quick, around three seconds. There's a bit of a lag when switching from the photo mode to playback, around four seconds or so. All things considered, speed is about average for the S6500.
|When shooting closeups, the Nikon Coolpix S6500 sometimes has trouble with autofocus, but taking a step back usually remedies the issue.
The S6500 is plagued by a few autofocus woes that pop up in some shooting conditions. In general, the autofocus is efficient time wise, though when there are several different objects in the frame, the focus does have a noticeable delay and trouble selecting the subject. When taking close ups, despite using the macro mode, there were several instances where the camera didn't focus. Generally, putting more distance between the camera and the subject solves the issue, since the minimum focus range is 3.2".
The S6500 also includes manual focus, where the user selects a portion of the screen using the menu controls to determine what is in focus. The S6500's tracking focus works well, though it doesn't re-recognize the subject after it leaves the frame momentarily.
Nikon also included over a dozen special effects that can be used as a setting while taking photos or to edit existing photos right from the camera. Color adjusting modes include cross process, monochrome, vivid, pop of color and selective color. The Coolpix also includes toy camera, soft, painting, high key and low key modes.
Miniature effect
|Soft effect
Toy Camera effect
Cross screen effect
Image Quality: Nikon Coolpix S6500
Thanks to the 16 megapixel back lit CMOS sensor, the S6500 sits above average in the point and shoot category on image quality.
Images are generally detailed and noise is surprisingly low. In a well lit indoor shooting environment, ISO 3200 wasn't quite as detailed (i.e. fewer dust speckles were visible), but there wasn't an obvious amount of noise either. In low light conditions, the S6500 performed great when left on auto ISO settings, at 3200 ISO, the image was quite grainy, typical at this high range.
|The Nikon S6500 does exceptionally well in low light when shooting still or slow moving subjects.
Color on the S6500 is accurate about 95 percent of the time. In some instances, there was a blueish hue to the image from the artificial lighting, but the images could be color corrected directly from the camera. At the best lighting conditions, colors are generally true to life.
When shooting light and shadow within the same frame, the lit areas tended to be washed out, particularly when zoomed in on the subject. But the exposure is easily adjusted, and as long as the photographer notices the differing light conditions and adjusts accordingly, the photos still turn out well, considering other point and shoots perform similarly in this area.
|The Nikon Coolpix S6500 lens allows for a nice depth of field.
The S6500 includes a f3.2-6.5 lens, so the images have a good depth of field to them. The 12x wide optical zoom lens is also a great range for a point and shoot. A digital zoom is also included, which can be switched off since resolution and quality decreases as digital zoom increases.
With 1080p HD quality, video is also pretty impressive on the S6500. The camera doesn't autofocus or adjust exposure as well as a dedicated camcorder and the S6500 needs two hands on video mode to avoid shakes when hitting buttons, but quality, detail and sound are pretty suburb for a point and shoot.
Nikon S6500 Review: Conclusion
The Nikon S6500 is listed for about $220, which seems right on the mark for competing cameras with similar features. The Canon ELPH 330 comes in at $199, but doesn't have as big of a zoom or as many megapixels. Sony's Cybershot WX150 is similarly priced and has more megapixels and a slightly smaller zoom, but no wi-fi.
|Photos from the Nikon S6500 are well detailed.
For the consumer looking for a compact camera for above average shots that can be easily edited and shared on the internet, the Nikon S6500 is a great option. With the built-in wi-fi and photo editing, it's easy to share quality images without even using a computer. The autofocus can be a bit sluggish at times, but the resulting images are detailed and colorful. For the photographer with the biggest emphasis on speed, there are some similarly priced competitors with faster burst modes that may autofocus better, but for someone looking for an all purpose camera, this is one of our top choices for 2013.
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3930 S Las Vegas Blvd Ste 121-B, Las Vegas, NV | Directions 8911936.098200 -115.173001
Sweets fanatics will find a slice of heaven at these two European-style dessert shops. – In Short
The second-floor store houses a kitchen and candy counter showcasing the creations made on-site. There's also a patio and sofas where guests relax and nibble desserts. The offerings include handmade chocolates and pastries made with the finest ingredients: Australian apricots, peanuts from Virginia, plump strawberries from California. Candies include a gooey caramel or sinful Kahlua truffle, while the Death by Chocolate torte features layers of devil's food cake, chocolate Vienna cream and French chocolate buttercream.
Overrated and Overpriced – There's not much to say about this other than the desserts look very nice and the atmosphere is fun. For a first date, this might be entertaining to just visit and see. As a chocolate lover and someone who enjoys trying new things, I found this to be bland and overpriced.
fantastic chocolate experience – My husband and I have been to the Chocolate Swan several times. The staff is warm , friendly and very helpful. We have tried several of their desserts...our favorites are the "too die for" chocolate dipped strawberries and their carrot cake. A huge bonus is to have the carrot cake and a glass of wine ...sit out on their patio and do some people watching. Can't wait until we go back and try some of the other desserts to add to our list of favorites! tbyars
User review by ronibidz – Great for a chocolate covered strawberry, or just about anything sweet you can dream of. This place has unique & fun gifts too. I enjoy stopping in everytime I'm at Mandalay.
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03. April 2014, BOSTON, MA
CompuGroup Medical US Expands Customer Base in Community Health – San José Clinic and its partners select CGM ENTERPRISE™ solution for two additional facilities.Boston, MA. April 3, 2014 (PRNewswire): CompuGroup Medical US (CGM) is proud to announce that CGM ENTERPRISE™, its ICD-10 enabled market leading practice management software suite for community health and beyond, has been selected as a software solution for the implementation of a healthcare quality collaborative headed by the San José Clinic in Houston, Texas.
21. January 2014, Owings Mills, MD
CompuGroup Medical's CGM LABDAQ® Laboratory Information System Receives Quest Diagnostics Quality Solutions CertificationOwings Mills, MD, January 21, 2014 – CompuGroup Medical US announced today that CGM LabDAQ LIS has been certified as a Gold Quality Solution by Quest Diagnostics under Quest's Health IT Quality Solutions™ Program (the "Program"). Quest Diagnostics is the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services.
19. December 2013, BOSTON, MA
CompuGroup Medical's Electronic Health Record (EHR) Solutions Among Top Ranked EHRs in Exclusive Report Published by Medical Economics.Boston, MA. December 19, 2013 (PRNewswire): CompuGroup Medical (CGM) is proud to announce that 3 of its EHR solutions have been selected and ranked 16th out of 100 Top Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems in an exclusive report released by Medical Economics.
07. November 2013, BOSTON, MA
CompuGroup Medical Congratulates Ms. Jennifer Fabre of Teche Action Clinic on Receiving the Louisiana Primary Care Association's 2013 Health Care Provider of the Year Award.BOSTON, Nov. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CompuGroup Medical congratulates Jennifer Fabre, MSN, APRN, ANP/FNP-CCDE, Chief Health Officer and Clinical Operations Manager at Teche Action Clinic, on the recent Health Care Provider of the Year award presented to her by the Louisiana Primary Care Association (LPCA).
17. September 2013, Columbia, SC
EMEDIX® Reimbursement Solutions, a division of CompuGroup Medical US, Partners with the Behavioral Health Services Association (BHSA) of SC, a representative SC's alcohol and drug abuse service system.Columbia, September 17, 2013 (BUSINESS WIRE) – EMEDIX® Reimbursement Solutions, a division of CompuGroup Medical US, is proud to announce its partnership with BHSA which became final in the month of August. EMEDIX Reimbursement Solutions has been chosen to improve revenue cycle management for 33 addiction service sites throughout the state of South Carolina.
05. September 2013, Koblenz


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The suede-shoes have ratcheted up their game with the recent maneuver of circumventing Nevada gambling law by building a pair of separately-owned 100-room hotel towers. State law requires a minimum of 200 rooms to qualify for an unlimited gambling license.
Wise guys who have watched the Marina shenanigans see this latest strategy as an attempted two-fer. Developers need to re-apply annually to keep their building permit current, so why not double down with the twin tower amendment? Get people talking and maybe somebody will come along with the financing to build the thing. Split it in half, thirds, quarters? Who cares?
Experts warned the city council years ago that without a high-rise hotel-casino, the entire Marina project would prove financially non-viable. When one expert didn't tell the hicks in city hall what they wanted to hear, they fired him and hired someone more pliable.
Once upon a time, the Reno Gazette-Journal wouldn't even print business stories from people announcing a speculative project just trolling for financing. Now, they'll print just about anything.
THE NEW NATIONAL ANTHEM. A few weeks ago, PBS aired a documentary on the history of modern feminism. One fifty-something woman told about being asked to sing the national anthem in grade school back in the Sixties.
She proudly broke into the song her mother had oft-noted as the national anthem: "I am woman, hear me roar, in numbers too big to ignore..."
Now comes information from the National Women's Law Center that Nevada women earn just 85 cents for every dollar paid to men. Silver State African-American females only get 68 cents on the dollar, Latinas just 53 cents.
The solution is being born. Nevada will soon be a minority-majority state and politicians, for once, are getting ahead of the curve. Two years ago, Assemblymember Olivia Diaz, D-N. Las Vegas, gave birth during the legislative session. This year, her colleague Theresa Benitez-Thompson, D-Reno, may well duplicate the feat.
Mrs. Benitez-Thompson has not announced a projected due date. She was hard at work when I called her office at deadline. The former Miss Nevada is married to KTVN TV-2 meteorologist Jeff Thompson. They have two children.
Benedicta, bellissima!
RADIO REDUX. Been getting calls about the death of talk radio on KJFK 1230-am. Blame no one but intentionally inept management afraid of Republican retaliation against the ad budgets on their lucrative fm-stations. KJFK was smothered in its own crib by its parents. More later.
Be well. Raise hell.
Andrew Barbano is a 44-year Nevadan and editor of NevadaLabor.com/ E-mail


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Volume 2; Issue 12
The U.S. Economic Development Administration is looking to the New Year as a time of challenge and transformation. We will continue our work in implementing President Obama's policy priorities with efforts to accelerate job growth and lay a foundation for robust economic growth. Because of the economic challenges we face, we are building a new framework for sustainable economic growth that meets the needs of the 21st Century. In the coming months we will begin to lay the groundwork for this new structure — one that embraces collaborative, integrated, regional approaches and that recognizes that regional and cross-functional collaboration among government agencies, private, non-profit, and public sectors is essential.
We will be sharing with you more about our approach to economic development and how the EDA can partner with you in your community's economic development efforts. I look forward to the challenges and opportunities that the New Year brings, and to our work in helping to cultivate a thriving U.S. economy.
I wish you all a safe, happy and prosperous New Year.
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has played an integral part in the U.S. Department of Commerce's mission to advance economic growth and job opportunities for the American people, especially in the area of environmental sustainability. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), EDA delivered $27 million to promote green businesses and jobs which, according to grantee estimates, is expected to create or save more than 4,700 jobs and leverage $267 million in private investment.
EDA Recovery Act grants relating to green jobs include:
These investments as well as 10 other EDA Recovery Act grants are spurring economic growth and fostering business creation that will lead America's competitiveness in the growing clean energy and energy efficiency markets.
America's competitiveness is driven by our ability to create and innovate, and other agencies within the Department of Commerce are also focused on economic growth through environmental sustainability and global competitiveness. With only six of the top 30 alternative energy companies based in the U.S., the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced a new pilot program last week that is designed to accelerate the patent process for green technology inventions. The USPTO's Green Tech pilot program will allow inventors who have already submitted patent applications for green technologies to have their submissions receive an expedited review. The pilot is geared toward 3,000 of the most promising patents which could drastically alter the way energy is utilized and lead to vast job creation. Additionally, USPTO's efforts will help improve speed to market of green technologies, an essential component in emerging green markets.
At the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), multiple efforts are underway to monitor climate change and advance the information that scientists, entrepreneurs, businesses and others are using to understand and assess climate issues throughout the country and across the globe. Climate networks such as the U.S. Climate Reference Network (CRN), which manages the system that tracks the national average changes in temperature and precipitation trends and the Historical Climatology Network (HCN), a regional system of 1,000 monitoring stations that collect climate, weather and precipitation measurements are serving as key elements to address climate issues. Also, the Cooperative Weather Observer Program is a network of more than 11,000 weather enthusiasts, scattered across the country, providing crucial data to NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS). These networks enhance the data and highlight climate trends that can better aid businesses, industry and farmers and help guide resoource managers with critical decisions about water, energy and other vital assets. Additionally, NOAA's efforts are setting up a much needed infrastructure for climate information that could open up business opportunities for new and existing entrepreneurs.
As companies and government agencies continue to pursue opportunities to mitigate climate change and build a cleaner economy, it is essential for economic development practitioners to recognize and tap into the trends of a cleaner and greener economy. New projects and ventures should focus on:
There is no single path for going green. Enabling and implementing green opportunities at the regional level is critical to our nation's economic success. Economic developers can work closely with regions to recognize that multi-tiered approaches to environmental sustainability must be taken for communities to reap the benefits.
For more information, visit:www.ncdc.noaa.gov/crn/www.nws.noaa.gov/www.uspto.gov/?source=filmmakers.com
Do you want to start a green business or make your existing business more sustainable? Are you looking for how to do it and where to start? Where and how do you learn about sustainable business practices and the opportunities and pitfalls associated with sustainable business?
Entrepreneurs and business owners across the country are looking toward the future and facing the dilemmas associated with these very real questions. Not surprisingly, thousands of aspiring and existing entrepreneurs are testing a variety of tools for learning the basics of sustainable business, including the popular do-it-yourself model, by taking a class, attending a workshop or learning about sustainability from books or online resources.
Yet, since entrepreneurs often learn best from other entrepreneurs, many business owners are embracing new business networks focused on green or sustainable business practices and issues. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of such networks popping up across the globe. In the U.S., they range from social mixer events, such as those sponsored by the growing number of "Green Drinks" groups. Started in a London pub in 1989, "Green Drinks" has evolved into a global self-organizing network of people with an interest in learning more about environmental sustainability while also having fun. Local networks operate in nearly every U.S. state, with more than 641 active groups worldwide.
Networks focused more directly on business issues are also emerging. Many groups focus on a single community or a single sector. For example, the construction industry is aggressively embracing green building practices, and, as a result, several new green building networks are emerging. At the national level, groups like the Green Building Institute and the U.S. Green Building Council are generating attention. Other national networks combine business training and collaboration with advocacy. E2, the Environmental Entrepreneurs, works with the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental action organization with 1.3 million members and online activists, to advocate issues that affect the environment and environmental entrepreneurs.
Green business certification is an even more formal approach to learning the latest trends in sustainable business practices. In general, the field of green certification, pioneered by the well known LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, is booming. Following the pattern set by LEED, many of the early certification efforts focused on issues of design and energy use. Other efforts, such as Green Seal, seek to combat the practice of greenwashing, a practice in which firms erroneously claim that their products or policies are environmentally friendly, by promoting rigorous global standards for green products.
Meanwhile, a whole host of small business certification efforts are also being introduced. These programs focus heavily on energy use, but also seek to introduce other sustainable business practices. Green Plus, developed by the North Carolina-based Institute for Sustainable Development, is one of the more expansive of these small business education and certification programs. The Green Plus program is built on partnerships with local groups, such as Chambers of Commerce or economic development organizations, which sponsor the specialized Green Plus training and education programs for their members. Firms can opt to use the Green Plus How-To Guide, or they can pursue formal certification. All participating firms also develop their own in-house diagnostic survey that helps them benchmark their performance and identify problem areas.
The Green Plus model, and related efforts, seek to get companies focused on the triple bottom line. They envision that firms can do the right thing for people and place, including their employees, their customers and their communities. But, the green business movement will never succeed unless it also improves performance — the company bottom line. These programs hope to succeed by combining a commitment to people, place and performance.
For more information visit:www.greendrinks.org/www.greenbuildinginstitute.org/www.usgbc.org/www.e2.org/www.greenseal.org/www.gogreenplus.org/
As business growth in green, sustainable and cleantech sectors has accelerated, more communities, regions, and states are targeting green industries as part of their core business cluster strategies. This new emphasis makes sense as green industries are poised for enormous growth as well as the prospect of providing higher-wage jobs. As another added benefit, support for green industries can be an important tool for revitalizing local manufacturing. Emphasis on the development of green industries is also essential to addressing the challenges of climate change. In many regions, support for cleantech or green business clusters generates a triple bottom line — it promotes economic growth, while meeting key social goals like job creation and environmental sustainability.
Cities and regions are seeking to nurture cleantech clusters in a variety of ways. Many cities have developed cleantech-focused business incubators. In fact, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory now sponsors a learning network of cleantech incubators located across the U.S. The Austin, Texas, clean energy incubator has operated since 2001, and supports firms in fields ranging from geothermal energy to internet-controlled irrigation. Austin recently received the top ranking by Sustainlane Government, an online sustainability best practices network for state and local government, for its ability to incubate cleantech firms. And, Bowling Green State University was recently recognized by the University Economic Development Association (UEDA) as the winner of the 2009 Award of Excellence in Economic Development Research for their spatial method in locating Ohio's Wind Energy Cluster.
Other regions have embraced more comprehensive strategies. The Seattle region's Prosperity Partnership has helped build and support a strong presence in cleantech. This effort began in 2005 with an initial research project to map out the state of cleantech in the Puget Sound region. Subsequently, a number of follow-on initiatives were created from the research, including the creation of the Washington Cleantech Alliance. The Alliance is involved in a host of activities to support the cluster. In recent months, it has sponsored a competition for the hottest cleantech start-ups and has also released a documentary film profiling local cleantech leaders. And, most importantly, the region is starting to spawn some exciting new companies. Seattle-based Hydrovolts is generating a lot of regional buzz. The firm makes floating turbines that can generate hydropower while floating in canals, rivers and other waterways. Hydrovolts recently won the 2009 Cleantech Open National Sustainability Award as the nation's best sustainable business. LivinGreen Materials is another prominent new venture, producing dye-sensitized crystals that will increase the efficiency of solar panels by 50 percent.
A similar cluster initiative is underway in San Diego. Started in 2007, the San Diego Cleantech Initiative supports efforts to help attract cleantech firms to the region and it also provides specialized training and technical assistance to existing firms who are seeking to introduce more sustainable business practices. The region has also spawned a host of related organizations, such as Cleantech San Diego, a network for local firms, and the Eco Investment Club, which brings together investors with an interest in the cluster.
Regions like Seattle and San Diego have enjoyed great success in designing cluster-based approaches to nurture green and cleantech-related companies. Most observers expect to see similar strategies emerge across the U.S. in coming years.
For more information, visit: http://www.ati.utexas.edu/cei2.htmhttp://www.sustainlane.us/articles/cleantech.jsphttp://www.nrel.gov/technologytransfer/entrepreneurs/inc.htmlhttp://www.prosperitypartnership.org/clusters/cleantech/index.htmhttp://www.wacleantech.orghttp://www.sandiego.gov/economic-development/business-assistance/cleantech/http://www.cleantechsandiego.org/about-us.phphttp://www.ecoinvestmentclub.com/
EDA is continually looking for economic development success stories and best practices that can be shared with economic development professionals across the nation. If you have a success story - either EDA funded or not - that you'd like to share, please email the subject and a brief description to email@example.com for possible publication in a future issue of EDA Update.
Crossing the Next Regional Frontier
[Web site]
This tool helps a region guide strategic conversations about where to invest scarce resources to build prosperity for the next generation. More specifically, this will enable regional leaders to focus on two sets of core assets that create prosperity: brainpower and innovation.
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) has commissioned Collaborative Economics Inc. (CEI) to prepare a profile of each state's "green" economy. The data is designed to provide a detailed, empirical account of each state's existing assets across multiple green sectors and serve as a foundation for identifying future growth areas and related needs. For further information and to view the map, visit the Web site.
IEDC 2010 Leadership Summit, The Woodlands, TX [Web site]
NARC's 2010 Nation Conference of Regions, Washington, DC [Web site]
NADO's 2010 Washington Policy Conference, Washington, DC [Web site]
APA's National Conference, New Orleans, LA [Web site]
IEDC's 2010 Federal Forum, Alexandria, VA [Web site]
UEDA 2010 Summit, Reno, NV


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Sacred Offerings
Brass Offering BowlHandcrafted offering bowl from recycled brass. May be filled with sand and used as an incense burner, accomodating any size stick or incense or charcoal. Learn More$23.95
Celtic Knot Pedestal Burning Bowl
Silver tone chalice-shaped burner with Celtic knot design. Removeable screen. Made in India.Learn More$22.00
Mother of Pearl Brass Bowl with Lid
Brass incense burner with mother of pearl inlays around the outside rim and on the lid.Learn More$21.00


text: Attempted murder trial gets under way in FargoFARGO, N.D. (AP) — Jury selection is under way in the trial of a Minnesota man accused in a shooting outside a North Dakota movie theater last summer. Forty-five-year-old Felipe Estrada of Dilworth, Minn., is accused of shooting one man and pistol-whipping another in Fargo. He has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.


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Mathematics (4–8)
The Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics (4–8) at St. Edward's prepares you to engage students in the wonders of math — from calculating percentages to circumferences to algebraic equations. We emphasize hands-on learning through teaching experiences in middle schools in Central Texas.
You'll achieve the flexibility to teach different levels of mathematics, including algebra, geometry, calculus and basic math. After completing a student teaching internship and the required certification exams, you'll be eligible to apply for your Grades 4–8 Mathematics teacher certification in Texas. Once you're certified, you'll be well prepared to teach in elementary and middle school classrooms.
Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics (4–8)
As a BA in Mathematics major, you'll explore different teaching models and develop methods for encouraging students' interest and success in math. You'll learn to design lesson plans and sample problems, present subject material and integrate technology into your teaching approach. You'll gain skills in assessing student learning, managing classroom behavior and interacting with parents.
Students select this degree with the goal of teaching in middle schools. Close interaction with faculty at St. Edward's — and time spent in classes, advising sessions and teaching fieldwork — fully prepares you for your student teaching internship and certification exams.
With a BA in Mathematics, graduates may teach mathematics in middle school classrooms after successfully completing the specified certification requirements. Advanced degrees are required for teaching positions at the college level.
Course Preview:
In addition to the general education courses required of all majors, and elective courses, BA in Mathematics majors take courses from these groups:
Students who major in mathematics complete core courses, which include Linear Algebra, Applied Statistics, Calculus, and Discrete Mathematics.
BA in Mathematics majors complete required minor courses in Teacher Education, which include Foundations in Education, Learning Processes and Evaluation, and Educational Technology Integration.
You will have 80 to 120 hours of teaching experiences in the field, which include one-on-one, small-group and whole-class settings.
After completing your field experience hours, you will undertake a 13-week student teaching internship in a culturally diverse school in Central Texas.
A research experience culminates the degree in Mathematics. This includes a two-course sequence in research methods and a seminar course, in which you'll present either the results of your original research or a review and analysis of previously published research. Many students also opt for a third course that includes active research with a publication-grade paper.
View the Degree Plan (PDF) for sample course information for the Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics (4–8).
In addition to an internship that may be required for your degree, St. Edward's University offers numerous opportunities for optional internships, professional-level research and hands-on creative experiences (writing, art, music, theater and more). These activities enhance your résumé, build your confidence and skills — and give you a distinct advantage in your career and for graduate school.


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PMT Offers Of The Week
Yamaha MG124CX 12 Channel Mixing Desk with Effects
Was: £314.00
Blackstar HT-5R Guitar Amplifier Combo With Reverb in White
Was: £379.00
Blackstar HT-5R Mini Head and Combo Stack in White
Was: £549.00
Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar Translucent Amber AA
Was: £1,899.00
Marshall SL-5 Slash Signature Guitar Amp Combo
Was: £589.00
Gibson Les Paul LPJ 2013 Electric Guitar in Chocolate
Was: £559.00
Martin LX1E Ed Sheeran Signature Electro Acoustic Guitar£499.00
TC Electronic Spark Mini Booster Guitar Pedal
Was: £75.00
TC Electronic Hall of Fame Mini Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
Was: £79.00
TC Electronic BG250-115 MKII Bass Guitar Amplifier Combo£345.00
Taylor 210E Electro Acoustic Guitar in Black
Was: £883.00
Boss OD-1X Overdrive Compact Guitar Pedal£119.00
Yamaha MG06X 6 Channel Mixing Desk with Effects£109.00
Fender FSR Baja Classic Player Telecaster Electric Guitar in White Blonde
Was: £720.00
Welcome to PMT, the UK's largest award winning music retailer and Guitar Shop -
In 1991 two Essex boys with a passion for music had a vision, most music stores and Guitar Shops seemed sad, lacking atmosphere, direction or any retail know how, so they decided to inject some new ideas into the music industry and P.M.T was born. Over Twenty years later, PMT is now one of the most established brands in music equipment retail, and has firmly positioned itself as the UK's finest supplier of guitars, drums, synths, keyboards, live sound & PA systems, computer music and recording products.
You always know when you're stood in a PMT superstore, they look different, they feel different, they simply are different, with a wow factor you just don't get anyway else. PMT stores are designed from the ground up with its customers in mind with an ambition to create a unique environment that makes you feel like you've walked into a glitzy rock concert.
My first visit at a PMT superstore put me in mind of the first time I visited the Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles.... It was the feeling that I was in a rock n roll theatre, and that I was part of the show.
At PMT you will not only find the best deals and best service but a shopping experience of a lifetime, just ask some of our customers... Robert Plant, Gary Moore, Marcus Miller, Noel Gallagher, Stereophonics, The Tin Tins, Radiohead, Joe Satrianni, Yngwie Malmstien, The Prodigy, Tony Iommi, Glen Tipton, KK Downing and so many many more we could fill the screen with a who's who. Why? Because they not only want the best deals from a Guitar Shop and Music Store, but a service, stability and reputation they can rely on.
Rapid expansion over the course of PMT's history sees the company proudly operating ten of the world's very best music stores, stocked with the biggest and best selection of musical equipment. I urge you to visit your nearest PMT superstore, make it a day out, take your camera as I guarantee you will see something you will want to tell your friends about!
PMT encourage you to personally visit the store so we can discuss your requirements face to face and demonstrate the products of your choice to the full. This 'back to basics' approach to making your choice ensures that we are able to offer you the best possible advice and guidance in finding the right product most suited to your requirements and skills.
So whether you need an electric or acoustic guitar, bass or PA system, Piano or workstation, software or studio monitors, mic or headphones, acoustic or electronic drum kit, guitar or bass amp, effects and many many many more instruments and accessories, PMT is your one stop Guitar Shop and Music Store you can trust.
Latest Posts from the PMT Online Blog
PMT Manchester @ The North West Guitar Show
Our PMT Manchester staff will be exhibiting a range of gear and show offers at the North-West Guitar Show 2014!
Sony Music/Legacy Recordings releasing Joe Satriani: The Complete Studio Recordings
A unique 15-CD library collector's box housing the rock guitar virtuoso's most comprehensive anthology ever!
The Line 6 AMPLIFi - Amplify Any Situation!
On demo in your local PMT Guitar Shop now! Head on in first a first hand experience of the evolutionary Line 6 AMPLIFi guitar amplifier.
The Yamaha Music Production Sessions @ PMT Stores
Yamaha product specialist Dom Sigalas will be hosting Free Music Production Sessions @ Yamaha Pulse PMT Stores in May and June
Roland Systems Digital Installation range now available at PMT Leeds!
Our PMT Leeds store are now an official stockist of Roland Systems' Professional PA range
Easter Opening Hours & Exclusive In-Store deals at PMT
We've got brand new additions to our Golden Ticket Easter Sale with amended store opening hours for Easter Weekend...


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For hunting, fishing, skiing and more, here's the way to capture the action in dynamic first-person clarity! A 3-megapixel pinhole camera in the nose bridge is ready to shoot and store videos shot at 25 frames per second, for up to 3 hours of action the way you see it.
The polycarbonate frames are surprisingly comfortable, and include 3 sets of interchangeable lenses, including polarized black, so you can wear 'em all day in any conditions. When you're done recording, simply hook them up to your PC with the included cables, and you're ready to share the sights and sounds of your latest adventure.
See it, share it:
Order yours ONLINE today!
i-Kam® Xtreme 3 MP Video Glasses, Black
i-Kam® Xtreme 3 MP Video Glasses, Camo
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Quickly and easily locate the part you need by selecting a product type.
TriQuint is proud to announce the latest additions to our innovative RF portfolio. View our New Products page to discover ways to simplify your RF designs across mobile, network infrastructure and defense applications.
TriQuint's QUANTUM Tx™ family of highly integrated transmit modules reduce board space and enable a much smaller footprint for 2G / 3G / 4G mobile devices. Find out how these building blocks can make RF design easier and faster for 2G and entry-level 3G devices.
Patented Spatium™ technology from TriQuint delivers a higher standard of efficiency, reliability and frequency range for high-power RF applications including communications, electronic warfare (EW), radar and test and measurement.
TriQuint's innovative TriAccess™ portfolio enables more efficient broadband video, voice and data services. TriQuint amplifiers and filters lower power consumption with improved performance. TriQuint enables all major 75 ohm RF systems in headend, infrastructure, MDU and CPE applications.
Consumers have come to expect Wi-Fi connectivity in their smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. You'll find TriQuint's TriConnect® Wi-Fi RF modules in many of the world's most sought-after products.
TRITIUM™ is a family of highly integrated modules designed for use in 3G mobile phones, data cards and USB modems. Optimize your 3G CDMA / WCDMA / HSUPA applications and gain maximum design flexibility.
TriQuint's highly integrated TRIUMF™ MMPAs are one more proven way that TriQuint engineers are delivering innovative solutions for the most complex mobile design challenges for cutting-edge smartphones. Let us help you simplify your 2G / 3G / 4G design and enhance system performance while speeding time to market.
TriQuint pioneered GaN technology for the defense industry. Now we're taking GaN further.
TriQuint's industry-leading technology delivers products that do more and require less.
TriQuint Announces First Quarter 2014 Results
James Klein on How Customers Will Benefit from TriQuint's Merger with RFMD
Visit TriQuint's newGaN Tech Hub sponsoredby Richardson RFPD. This microsite features TriQuint's latest GaN solutions for commercial and defense applications, as well as a robust library of GaN technical resources.


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Mother's Day Brunch Menu
A Sweet and Savory Mother's Day Brunch
Make this Mother's Day memorable and delicious with an impressive brunch spread. Don't hold back here — more is more when it comes to brunch. We've got an idea for a tasty menu that will make any mom feel so loved . . . and full.
Daytime Drinks
Mimosas or Bloody Marys? Who says you have to choose? Have a wonderfully boozy start to the day (which will probably be followed by an afternoon nap) with fresh grapefruit mimosas and classic Bloody Marys to choose from.
Sweet and Savory Main Courses
An uncomplicated and filling frittata is a great way to serve eggs to a crowd. This savory recipe is chock full of veggies and it's easily adaptable to fit your taste preferences. For a sweeter counterpart, cook up a fluffy french toast strata with chicken sausage. Make life easier on yourself and put this together the night before, so you can just wake up and stick it in the oven.
A Hashed-Out Side Dish
Sweet potato hash browns are easy to put together and are especially delicious doused in your favorite hot sauce. This side dish complements the sweet and savory items of the brunch spread perfectly.
Seasonal Fruit Salad
For some freshness, grab your favorite fruit and throw together a fresh fruit salad. A rich meal like this benefits from a crisp and juicy component.
Chocolate-Covered Ending
Finally, because your mom is totally worth it, make a bunch of chocolate-covered strawberries to finish the meal that will show her just how much you love her.
What are you cooking or eating this Mother's Day?


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gerball for iPad
By Si Design
Open iTunes to buy and download apps.
Gerry the gerbil has his eye on some shiny balls!
In particular, Gerry loves shiny GOLD balls.
In order for Gerry to get his hands on some shiny gold balls, he must spin and roll across 60 levels contained within 6 rooms of Gerry's house!
Gerry's house is not just any house though! No, Gerry's house is very dangerous. It contains many traps and hazards that Gerry might bump into, but worst of all - Gerry might fall off the edge of a level, and SMASH his own ball into a million tiny pieces!
So what are you waiting for - hurry and help Gerry collect his shiny balls!
Game features:
* Amazing 3D graphics - push your iPhone and iPad to the max and see what it can do!
* 60fps - silky smooth gameplay!
* Full 3D ball physics - playing with a gerbil has never been so much fun!
* 60 levels - from the weird and wonderful to the twisted and tormenting!
* 6 stages - starting from the beautiful green garden and ending with the spooky...???
* 6 special levels - will you reach the end??
* 3 unique endings - play well and watch all three wonderful endings!
* 61 online high scores tables - are you the best in the world?
* 5 player profiles - all the family can play!
* 2 control methods - tilt or touch, it's up to you!
* 4 views - tilt your iPad while in the menu to change the view!
What's New in Version 1.10
* gerball and gerball for iPad are now both universal! Play on both iPone and iPad. Both versions of the game are now identical.
* Twice as smooth! gerball now runs at 60FPS on 4S, iPhone 4, iPad2 and iPad (iOS 4.0+), instead of 30FPS. Still runs at ~30FPS on 3G. If you're running on an iPad 1 with iOS 3.2, upgrade to the latest iOS, otherwise the game will run too slowly.
* New shiny ball! Gerry's ball now looks a lot better.
* Sprite rendering improved! No more black edges. Menus now look much better.
* World leaderboards improved! All scores shown, not just top 10 - and you can see your own rank by pressing the centre circle button.
* Play next level button added at the end of each level. You no longer have to keep going back to the menu to play the next level.
* Tilt calibration added - you no longer have to keep the device flat if you don't want to.
* Help guide added (enable in options).
* x2 tilting effect. Level tilt effect more exaggerated.
* Tilt controls improved.
* Slide control method made default, as well as touch camera control.
* iPhone version orientation switching is now the same as the iPad version - the screen now automatically rotates to match the device orientation, except when playing in tilt mode (due to the possibility of an accidental orientation change). This is no longer a selectable option.
* iPad camera buttons repositioned for easier access whilst playing.
* Easier level unlocks. You only need a bronze ball now to unlock the next level. Also, you only need to get nine bronzes to unlock every tenth level, not nine golds.
* For new players, stages 2-6 are locked at the start, and need gold balls to unlock
* For new players, levels 2-10 for every stage are locked at the start
* Version number added to menu screen
* 3 new levels with new high score tables!
* 1-5 Springs and Roundabouts replaced by new level Farmer's Field.
* 1-9 Backyard Buzzers replaced by new level Garden DeFence.
* 2-7 Twist and Turn replaced by new version.
* 3 'Extras' levels on iPad version removed. One level was bugged and virtually impossible (although a few people still finished it - well done!). Don't worry, all gerball users will get plenty of more 'extras' in future updates!
Customer Reviews
New Version
😄😄😄😄😄 I think the next Update All users will have extras I can't wait for da next update 😉😉😉😍😍😍😍 wow I can tell about the new levels
Like it
The game would be better if you could tilt to roll ball like it
- $0.99
- Category: Games
- Updated: Dec 28, 2011
- Version: 1.10
- Size: 11.5 MB
- Language: English
- Seller: Simon Harrison
- © Si Design
Compatibility: Requires iOS 3.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.


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And so it begins. AT&T cracking down.
For all the irrational and paranoid whining about VZW gouging and playing dirty, AT&T has been consistentlyfar worse (albeit a data network a good bit faster, prior to LTE).
And, yes, free tethering with Thunderbolt until May 15th, but I really will be shocked if VZW allows people unlimited LTE tether like they did on 3G.
AT&T tells customers using unauthorized tethering methods to pay up or stop
By Donald Melanson posted Mar 18th 2011 10:52AM
Been using an app like MyWi to enable tethering on your jailbroken iPhone? Then there's a good chance you've already received a message like the one above from AT&T, or perhaps an email like the one after the break. By all accounts, the carrier is now cracking down on all unauthorized tethering, and it's asking folks engaged in such behavior to either pay up for a proper tethering plan or simply stop tethering altogether -- if it doesn't hear anything back for you after sending the message, AT&T says it will automatically enroll you in a DataPro 4GB tethering plan (at a rate of $45 a month). We should note that all the reports we've seen so far are from iPhone users, although that certainly doesn't mean Android users will simply be allowed to slip by unnoticed. Exactly how AT&T is identifying users isn't clear, however, and we could well just be seeing the beginning of a cat and mouse game as folks try to discover workarounds to go undetected. More on this one as we get it.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Dear XXXXXXXX,
We've noticed your service plan may need updating.
Many AT&T customers use their smartphones as a broadband connection for other devices, like laptops, netbooks or other smartphones– a practice commonly known as tethering. Tethering can be an efficient way for our customers to enjoy the benefits of AT&T's mobile broadband network and use more than one device to stay in touch with important people and information. To take advantage of this feature, we require that in addition to a data plan, you also have a tethering plan.
Our records show that you use this capability, but are not subscribed to our tethering plan.
If you would like to continue tethering, please log into
your account online at www.wireless.att.com, or call us
at 1-888-860-6789 Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. CST
or Saturday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. CST, by March 27, 2011
to sign up for DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering.
Here are details on the plan:
DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering
• $45 per month
(this gives you 4GB in total, combining both your smartphone data plan for $25 and the tethering feature, $20)
• $10 per each additional GB thereafter, added automatically as needed
• Mobile Hotspot capabilities are included for compatible Smartphones
If we don't hear from you, we'll plan to automatically enroll you into DataPro 4GB after March 27, 2011. The new plan – whether you sign up on your own or we automatically enroll you – will replace your current smartphone data plan, including if you are on an unlimited data plan.
If you discontinue tethering, no changes to your current plan will be required.
It's easy to track your usage throughout the month so there are no bill surprises. For example, we send you free text messages when you reach 65, 90, and 100 percent of your plan's threshold. If you would like to monitor your account more closely, go to www.att.com/dataplans to learn about other ways to track your data usage.
As a reminder, our smartphone data plans also include unlimited usage of Wi-Fi at no additional charge. AT&T smartphone customers can use Wi-Fi at home or on-the-go at any one of our more than 23,000 U.S. hotspots already included in your data plan.
Thank you for bringing your account up to date. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve your mobile broadband needs.


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Why I won't put Dwight Howard in the first round of H2H rankings
by Jason on Sep.26, 2010, under Other, Rankings
Dwight Howard is many things, including: jacked beyond decency, the NBA's best center and one of the most divisive fantasy basketball players alive today.
First off, let's be clear that in roto leagues drafting Howard in the first round can only be seen as a masochistic self-challenge and ultimate test of your fantasy skills — a test which will almost always lead to a non-first-place finish. In head-to-head leagues, however, Howard is seen by the vast majority of experts and fantasy basketball owners as a top-12 fantasy asset. This assertion is, of course, always followed up by a warning that starts with something like, "…so long as you…" followed by a brief mention of punting categories and building around his strengths.
Let the record show that I fully agree with the idea that "Foul on You" is worth a pick in the first round, so long as you are disciplined enough to follow up by constructing the right roster with your remaining picks.
But that doesn't change the fact that I don't like placing Howard in the first round of my fantasy rankings — even for head-to-head formats.
Here is my reasoning:
- A list of rankings to serve all skill levels: This point is my main reason for being so averse to placing Howard in the first round of my fantasy basketball rankings, even for head-to-head formats. Any time you have to follow up your explanation of ranking a player in the first round with "…so long as you…" a red flag should be flapping all up in your lovely mug in the same way it should when a friend tells you they know a girl who'd be perfect for you, "so long as you're OK with the fact that she has no thumbs." While fantasy basketball veterans should have no problems reading H2H rankings that have Howard in the top 12, those who are either new to the game or still trying to learn the ropes might read them and be led into a trap, especially if a caveat isn't included. In order to accommodate fantasy basketball owners in all categories of 1337ness, from rookies to 20-year vets, I choose to place Howard somewhere between where experienced owners might take him (mid- to late-first round) and where rookies should probably be advised to take him (mid- to late-second round). If that means I'm indirectly advising less-experienced owners to miss out on Howard, so be it. He's a potent fantasy weapon, but one that could easily backfire for someone who won't know how to use him. The following points are reasons why the big man in Orlando is a risky option for your team's first pick, especially if you're not too well acquainted with the game.
- Objects in mirror are more difficult than they appear: While a word of caution and an explanation regarding Howard's fantasy value is fine and dandy, it's usually not as simple as it sounds. Let's say you draft the big fella in the first round and commit to punting FT%. This would mean that in the second round, your ideal picks would be either Josh Smith (60.6 percent in the past two seasons) or Rajon Rondo (63 percent in his four-year career). But what if those two dudes are taken before you can get them? What if players that would fit into your punting strategy continue to be taken throughout most of the draft, forcing you to either compromise your plan, reach a bit too often for players who should be taken a round or two later, or just completely lose your cool and draft a mediocre team? It can happen. Even if you're aiming to draft Howard in the first round and endeavor to actually target players with great free-throw percentages to make up for his 59 percent from the line on 10+ attempts per game, the same risk of unfortunate drafting scenarios can easily take place. Punting is a great tactic for Howard owners in a vacuum, but in reality there's a lot of room for error. (This isn't even to mention how difficult it could be to transition from drafting with a roto or traditional H2H mindset, which are oftentimes the same for many owners, to a punting/compensating strategy.)
- The ceiling is sagging: Let's be brutally honest here: despite the upbeat mentions of how much he has worked on his shooting and offensive arsenal during each offseason, we never see any of that come to fruition once the season starts. Let's take a look at Howard's stats for the past three seasons:
Do you see a trend (besides the strange streak of XX:42 in playing time)? No matter how insignificant you might think it seems, it's there. Howard has seen his points, rebounds and minutes decline, while his personal fouls have risen. This isn't to say that I think the trend will continue in this exact fashion this season, but I do see a troubling trend here, and it's mostly rooted in his penchant for fouling and his consequential decline in playing time. With the NBA's new (and more sensitive) guidelines regarding technical fouls, there's even less to like for Howard's on-court time heading into this season. (He and Rasheed Wallace led the league with 17 technical fouls each last season.) His stats seem set in stone. That's not necessarily a bad thing, since he's putting up some gaudy numbers, but it doesn't bode well for his potential to improve on any particular statistical category. Upside is an intangible aspect of players' values on draft day, and Howard has next to none of it.
- They're gunning for him: Why do you think the Miami Heat has seven players who can play center on their roster? Part of the reason is to frustrate, foul and defeat Howard, who will face the South Beach triumvirate and their stable of bigs four times this regular season. While that's only four games in an 82-game schedule, we've all seen how teams are doing a better job of frustrating the easy-to-fluster Howard on a nightly basis. The new guidelines for technicals don't help here either.
- Overrated strengths, underrated weakness: When discussing Howard's fantasy value, everyone will concede that he's miserable at the free-throw line, but point to the notion that he's gold from the field. What some owners fail to realize is that Howard's high FG% doesn't help as much as it would appear to. That's because he's typically taking a measly 10-11 shots per game. This means that a player like David Lee, who shot 54.5 percent from the field and made 8.5 shots on 15.5 attempts per game last season, can be seen as more helpful for your fantasy team's FG% than Howard's 61.2 percent from the field with 6.2 shots made on 10.2 attempts per game. This further highlights why Howard is so detrimental to your team's FT% (and why a successful attempt at punting/compensating is even more necessary), and also why his "strong" FG% may not actually be that helpful, especially if you have a neutralizer like Brandon Jennings (37 percent from the field, 5.5 FGM on 14.8 FTA last season) on the same team. Also, let's not forget that rebounds are the second most common stat in the game, which means his strength in that category might not "lock it up" nearly as well as Howard's blocks do for that exponentially scarcer category.
- Fewer outs: Aside from shooting percentages and turnovers, most first- and second-round players pretty much help you in three, four or five categories. Howard is essentially limited to two: blocks and rebounds. So it doesn't help that when he has a bad game, that's pretty much it. Howard won't gut out a bad night by finding other ways to contribute like other top-tier players can by, for example, handing out more assists or heading to the line more often on a bad shooting night. Add to this the fact that foul trouble particularly affects the steals and blocks categories, and you're looking at limited lines from Howard when he's having a bad night (i.e., in foul trouble). Last season, Howard racked up four or more fouls in 45 games (55 percent of the 82 he played). In those games, he averaged 16.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 2.4 blocks and 3.4 turnovers. He racked up five or six fouls in 19 games (23 percent of the 82 he played). In those games, he averaged 14.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals, 2.1 blocks and 3.3 turnovers. Not too shabby, but not the kind of rigidly weighed-down numbers you'd like to see so often from a first-round pick.
- Bad news comes in threes, or fours, or fives, or…: It wouldn't be so bad if Howard's foul troubles popped up once every several games. But the bad news is that foul trouble comes in streaks for him, which is particularly harsh for weekly formats. Last season, Howard was tagged with four or more fouls in at least two games in a row nine times. (The precise streaks in chronological order were: four, five, seven, five, four, two, two, two, two.) Given the foul-troubled stats in the previous point, it's clear that there were a handful of weeks where the big man was more human than superman for his fantasy owners in 2009-10.
- I've seen too many casualties: During the past several seasons, I've seen many fantasy owners take Howard in the first round of head-to-head format drafts. How many ended up winning the championship in those leagues? Zero. In fact, I've seen only one owner win a league after drafting Howard at all. Yes, I haven't played in enough leagues to make this statistic scientifically significant, but it does seem to lend at least the tiniest bit of weight to my preference to leave Howard out of my first-round rankings.
- I have a headache: Punting or compensating FT% with Howard leading your fantasy squad can be a headache. It requires discipline, attention and some fortunate draft picks to work. It's not too absurd to argue that it's all too much toil for a player with limited fantasy versatility. Going with another better-rounded player in the first round gives you the freedom of choice until the latter rounds of the draft, when subtle weaknesses might rear their heads. For some fantasy owners, avoiding Howard and opening up their options is the path to a more enjoyable fantasy draft. For others who want to avoid the paradox of choice, taking Howard in the first round and limiting their options will be the more challenging-in-a-rewarding-way undertaking. While taking him as your first pick might be the foundation of a smartly built fantasy juggernaut, I adhere to the notion that avoiding Howard in the first round offers most fantasy owners more avenues to fantasy championships.


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On View: Oval Kohl Tube with Cover and Separate Stick
In antiquity this container held a black eye paint called kohl. The piece was closed in an unusual manner. A vertical groove runs through th...
Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo
Hiroshige's 118 woodblock landscape and genre scenes of mid-nineteenth-century Tokyo, is one of the greatest achievements of Japanese art.
On View: The Doge's Palace (Le Palais ducal)
Daunted by Venice's innumerable picturesque views and art-historical legacy, Monet delayed visiting the city until 1908. Once there, h...
Brooklyn Museum Posse:
Exploring the collection
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200 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, New York 11238-6052
Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum
Wednesday: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Friday–Sunday: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.